Checker Motors, today's builder and subcontractor of automotive sheetmetal body components, is still remembered as being the producer of the most recognizable taxi platform in the United States. Though its A8/Marathon produced from 1956-1982 hasn't faded from taxi memory, its Perkins diesel-powered units evidently have. Checker's diesel-powered Marathon sedans were unique and extremely rare platforms in the automotive realm. In fact, there are some who continue to deny their existence altogether.
The complicated history of Checker Motors began in Chicago with a gentleman named Morris Markin. Markin, who made an extremely good living in the clothing business, was always dabbling in financial opportunity. One of his new ventures suddenly went south, and he found himself the default owner of a contract autobody manufacturer in Joliet, Illinois. His $15,000 loan became a complicated investment that thrust him into an automotive supplier business that produced units for Commonwealth Motors, which marketed completed vehicles to taxi companies under the Mogul brand name.
Checker Taxi Co., a private concern in Chicago, had placed a large order with Commonwealth for the Mogul units. Markin discovered that Commonwealth was on the edge of bankruptcy as well, so he combined the two concerns to honor the contract with Checker Taxi. The new company was labeled the Checker Cab Co. Strangely, Markin stayed out of the new combination.
Yellow Cab, an older yet equally well-known brand, was founded in 1910 by John Hertz. Hertz produced both the branded vehicles and operated a parallel livery service. Always looking for new angles, Hertz began utilizing his overproduction by renting the cars to his customers through his subsidiary, Yellow Drive-Ur-Self. This unit was the beginning of Hertz Rental Car.
Not to be outdone, Markin emulated Hertz's success and began purchasing the Checker fleet in 1924. By 1937, he had gained full control of Checker Cab Co. Uniforms and customer service followed, with both concerns involved in open warfare, the highlight of which was the fire-bombing of Markin's home. This tragic event caused him to wisely leave town, but when he did, he purchased the remains of the Dort automotive concern in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His objective was to relocate Checker.
Hertz, meanwhile, tired of the livery business and sold it to Parmalee Transportation. The livery wars were not over, however, and in 1929, Hertz suffered the loss of his stables, where many of his prized racehorses were killed in an arson fire. He left the livery side when Markin purchased both his shares and bought another third of the Parmalee business, taking control of both.
When Hertz sold off the livery side of the business, his production operations were initially sold to General Motors. GM, however, immediately attempted to sell them to Markin. He refused the offer, so the General entered the taxi business with the former Yellow Manufacturing, now branded Terminal Taxi.
Markin strangely sold his Checker operation to E.L. Cord and the Cord Empire, only to buy it back in 1936. By 1940, with war clouds looming, Parmalee's operations-including Checker and Yellow-became the largest livery provider in the United States. With a seemingly unlimited cash flow, Checker entered the consumer-automotive business in 1960.